The Long Road Ahead

New Year, New Neurons! | A Jan ’26 Neuro-Update

Hello folks

Welcome to your very first newsletter of 2026! I hope you’ve had a relaxing festive season and managed to successfully dodge the worst of the mince pies (or at least the ones that look like they’ve been used as doorstops).

Whether you’re raring to go with ambitious resolutions or you’re just hoping to put your trousers on the right way round this morning, or in my case pants and vest, frankly, we’ve all been there, I am so glad you’re here. January can feel like a bit of a slog, a grey month where we’re all supposed to suddenly reinvent ourselves. But here at Resilience Rundown, I believe that simply showing up is victory enough.

So, grab a cuppa (decaf, builder’s, or something stronger?… I won’t judge), get comfortable, and let’s get into the latest from our brilliant, brainy community.

1. News & Notes from the Neuro-hood

It’s been a buzzing month for brains! If you missed the headlines between Christmas dinners and dodging family politics, here is exactly what’s happening in our world.

• The Rise of the Robot Assistants: First off, a massive cheer is for the NHS! Just this past December, they released fascinating data on a “life-changing” AI tool called Brainomix 360. Think of it as a highly intelligent, invisible assistant for doctors that helps spot clots in minutes rather than hours. The result? It has reportedly tripled the rate of full recovery for many patients. This is absolutely brilliant news for any stroke survivor hoping for faster, more innovative interventions in the future. “Time is brain,” as they say, and this tech is buying us more of it.
• A “Gym Pill” for the Brain?: In the lab, scientists at UCLA dropped a bombshell earlier this year that we are still talking about: they’ve found a drug that mimics the effects of physical rehab… in mice. Now, I know what you’re thinking, we aren’t mice (mostly, though I do enjoy cheese). However, this is a massive step toward medicinal therapies that could help repair brain damage alongside our gruelling gym sessions. It provides a glimmer of hope for that extra boost we all crave when the physical fatigue sets in.
• Gamifying the Grind: Finally, for the young stroke survivor community and those managing a brain injury, “Neuroplasticity” was the undisputed buzzword of 2025, and it’s staying for 2026. The trend of using VR (Virtual Reality) games for rehab has officially gone mainstream. Who knew zapping aliens could help retrain your arm better than lifting a plastic cone 50 times? Whether you’re recovering from a haemorrhagic stroke or a TBI, the future of rehab is looking decidedly more sci-fi—and we love it. If we have to do the work, we might as well look like cool cyborgs while doing it.

Sources: NHS England (AI Tool) |UCLA Health (Rehab Drug) |Gamified stroke recovery improves arm function | UBC Faculty of Medicine |Stroke survivors invited to join new rehabilitation study using gaming technology

2. Recovery Roadmap: Tips & Tricks

Since it’s January, you might be thinking about big, sweeping goals. But let’s be honest: sometimes, it’s the little hacks that save our bacon (and our energy levels). Here are two significant areas of focus featuring “tried and tested” tricks from the community to keep your battery charged.

• Gadgets & Gear for the One-Handed Warrior:
  Living the “one-handed” life requires some serious ingenuity. Two favourites from the community this month involve shoes and steak. First, if fiddling with shoelaces feels like defusing a ticking bomb, swap them for elastic laces. They turn any standard trainer into a slip-on instantly—no bunny ears required. Second, let’s talk dinner. If you love a steak but struggle to cut it, invest in a “rocker knife.” It has a curved blade that lets you cut with a simple rocking motion, meaning you don’t need a fork in the other hand to anchor the food. It’s dignity on a plate.
• The Energy & Dressing Protocol:
  We often underestimate the brain power required for simple tasks. To avoid the morning grumps, follow the Golden Rule of dressing: “Affected side first.” When getting dressed, always slide your weaker arm or leg in first. When undressing, take the strong side out first. It stops you from getting tangled in a jumper and needing a rescue mission.
  Furthermore, practice Energy Budgeting. Treat your energy like cash in your wallet. If you spend it all on a shower in the morning, you’ll be broke by lunch. Break big tasks into chunks and rest before you crash. Guilt-free naps are a prescription, not a luxury!

🔗 Source: Flint Rehab One-Handed Hacks

3. Triumphant Tales: Stories of Strength

This month, we’re tipping our hats to a truly unbreakable will: Andrew Salmon.

At just 31, Andrew was the definition of a fitness fanatic, lifting weights, running regularly, and living life in the fast lane. He, like many of us, thought strokes were something that only happened to “older people.” But in July 2023, a sudden stroke left him unable to speak and struggling to move.

For a guy used to power cleans and personal bests, finding himself winded just walking around a hospital ward was a massive shock to the system. It’s a feeling many of us know all too well—the frustration of your body not doing what you command it to do. But Andrew didn’t let the hospital gown define him. He spent the last couple of years fighting for every inch of progress, relearning to speak and walk with the cheers of his nursing team spurring him on.

Fast forward to today, and Andrew isn’t just “recovered”—he’s training for a massive 200-mile cycling race. He says the experience shifted his priorities entirely: “We remember to live. We are more selfish with our time.”

Andrew, you’re a legend. Good luck with the race—we’ll be cheering you on from the comfort of our sofas!

🔗 Read Andrew’s full story: Virginia Mason Franciscan Health

A Question for You:

Andrew’s story talks about being “selfish with time.” As we start 2026, what is one thing you are going to say “No” to this year, so you can say “Yes” to your own recovery and happiness? Let us know in the comments or reply by sending a reply to this email!!

Until we meet again, keep moving forward—even if it’s just a toe wiggle.

Thank You for Reading!

~Andrew Oliver